LAS VEGAS, NV — Envisioning a program like what the Apollo Project was for the race to space, U.S. Senator Harry Reid announced his Energy Independence by 2020 campaign today. Reid will work with his Senate Democratic Colleagues on a plan to expand domestically produced, sustainable energy in order to increase America’s security, reduce skyrocketing energy prices and improve the environment.

Reid made his announcement at a local Las Vegas home powered entirely by solar energy. Central to Reid’s strategy for American energy independence is the continued development of renewable energy resources.

“Tapping into renewable energy as a viable power source is not just a distant concept,” Reid said. “Today, more and more homes like this one are powered by renewable resources, drastically reducing energy costs. With a massive commitment of Federal resources to energy research and production, like what the Apollo Project was for the race to space, we can build on current technology and ingenuity and make America energy independent by the year 2020.”

A major component of The Energy Independence 2020 campaign includes an initiative to diversify and expand our energy supplies. Building on current resources and technology, the initiative would establish a national electricity standard that requires greater use of renewable energy, enhance incentives for energy production from solar, wind and geothermal resources, increase dramatically the production of domestically grown biofuels, support the development of a hydrogen community, promote advanced clean coal technology and encourage construction of the Alaskan natural gas pipeline.

Highlighting current uses of renewable energy resources and future prospects, Reid was joined by leaders in the renewable energy field including homeowner Chris Brooks, business entrepreneur Tim Carlson, President and CEO of Powered by Renewables, Rose McKinney-James, member of the Nevada Renewable Energy Task Force and Dr. John Sagebiel, a leading Nevada scientist.

Reid added, “Devoting resources to Energy Independence 2020 will create millions of new highly skilled, well-paid jobs, keep hundreds of billions of dollars in the US that would otherwise continue flowing to oil-producing countries and cement America as the leader in energy efficient product manufacturing and exporting.

“I want to make sure that national commitment to renewable energy begins right here in Nevada.”

Other components of the Energy Independence 2020 would prevent oil company price gouging, market manipulation and disaster profiteering, create gasoline and jet fuel reserves, provide consumers with more fuel efficient vehicles, increase mass transit use, improve air traffic to shorten flight times and invest in math and science education for the next generation of energy engineers.

Energy Independence 2020

The Federal government must do a better job of protecting consumers, businesses, and farmers burdened by today’s skyrocketing energy prices. We must also break our country’s dangerous reliance on foreign energy. With leadership and vision, we can help ensure low cost supplies of sustainable energy that will improve America’s security, reduce the burden on middle class families, and help clean our environment.